TO THE REA DE R. REASONS ought to be given for a difference from the common mode of spelling in three or four words in the following History, as, without manifeft expediency, innovations in language, above all in spelling, ought not to be admitted. The letter S in island is redundant, and erroneoufly adopted from ifle in the French language, which however contains no fuch word as island. The word is originally Gothic, and without an S in the old English, in which we find ey, yle, and eyland, fynonymous terms, as in the modern Belgic dialects, to which, of all languages, the English bears the closest affinity. So useless an innovation, as the engrafting of a dead letter from the French on an original Englifh word, ought to be corrected. Instead of annexation, in this book is annexion, derived from annecto, in like manner as connexion from connecto. If annexation be proper, why not also con nexation? By writing monarchal the derivation is closely ob. served, and the cacophony of monarchical avoided. ERRAT A. FOR the prevention of typographical errors, the author had intended to inspect personally the printing of his work. dence in Dublin at the requisite season has been deranged from unforeseen As his plan of constant resicircumstances, the following errors have happened, most of which a sensible reader would correct from his own judgement. In page 104 line 6 from the bottom-for O'Farlan 164 line 11 from the top 231 line 18 232 line II 243 line 3 251 for revent for into read O'Faolan. read prevent. read gain any. read in. for at acquisition read for Aquitainans read Aquitanians. for statute for into for Widvoole read at the acquisition. state. read into Ireland. read Woodville. for immediately read imminently. for ambassadors read ambassador. line 10 from the bottom put a comma 270 line 4 278 line 2 from the bottom 288 line 11 327 line 20 396 line II from the bottom for into for produced for confined for tobers after Piers. read in. read procured. read confirmed. read others. for full in poffeffion read for ability read in full poffeffion. debility. for as vain useless read as vain as useless. for commissioner read commissioners. INTRODUCTION-Geographical Sketch of Ireland- its Situation-Figure Inlets-Contour -Face- CHA P. II. National vanity-Periods of Irish History-Ireland known to the Phenicians and Greeks-to the Romans-its Name-Celts-Goths-Firbolgs-Tua- tha-de- Danans-Scots-Romans-Fables-Songs- -Language-Stories-Cairbre-Caitkan- CHA P. III. Religion of the ancient Irish-Druidifm-Letters- Christianity-Saint Patrick-Iland of Saints- ancient government of Ireland-Laws-Brebons- Manners-Raths-Duns-Hofpitality-Cofhering- Fofterage-Bards-Food-Habits-Hiftory-Lao- Danes-Charlemagne-Turgefius or Thorgils-Am- lave, Sitrick, and Ivar-Danish Invaders of Ire- land, comparatively few in number-Laft Kings of Ireland-Cormac Mac Cuillenan-Brian Boro Battle of Clontarf Mortough O'Brian—-Magnus— Learning-Scholars-Columbanus, &c.-Virgilius Solivagus-Mean bigotry Johannes Scotus Eri- gena, &c.-Hiftorical Records of Ireland-Pfal- mod Mac Murchad-O'Loghlin-Roderic O'Connor -Summary of the Hiftory of Wales-Rice-ap-Griffith -Strongbow-Robert Fitzftephen-Maurice Fitz- Patronymics of the Normans, Welch, and Irish— Arrival of Robert Fitzftephen.-Attack of Wex- ford-Arms of the Oftmen and Irish-Of the Anglo- Normans-Donations of Dermod- -Attack of Of fory-Maurice Fitzgerald-Advance of Roderic -Fitzftephen's Magnanimity-Treaty of Dermod and Roderic-Account of Dublin-Submiffion of this City-Defection of Thomond-Storming of Wa- terford-Marriage of Strongbow-Storming of Dub- lin-Gouncil of Armagh-Slave Trade-Misfor- tunes of Strongbow-Affault of Dublin-Siege of Dublin Of Carrick-Horrible Perjury-Capture |